THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2000 AT 2.00 PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman) Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson) Sir J Gorman Mr G Kelly Mr D McClarty Mr D O'Connor Mr E ONeill Mr M Robinson Mr J Tierney

Apologies: Mr B Hutchinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin Mr L Hart Ms V Surplus

Mr F Cobain took the Chair.

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

The Department has made copies of its paper on funding for 2000/2001 available to the Committee in advance of next week's meeting with the Minister.

The Chair and Deputy Chairperson will meet local university experts next week with a view to sourcing relevant expertise, and the Committee will then aim to identify suitable names at its meeting scheduled for Tuesday 1 February. Sir John Gorman advised the Committee of his very high regard for Magee College's housing research team from his previous related dealings with them.

3. Future Work Programme

Agreed:

i. The Committee will meet on Tuesday January 25 between 12.00 PM and 2.00 PM to discuss housing issues and the Departmental paper on budgets.

ii. Unless special circumstances prevail, the majority of future meetings at which the Committee takes evidence will be opened to the public. Next week's meeting with the Minister will be a public session.

iii. The Clerk will arrange for the relevant Senior Departmental officials to attend the Committee's meetings on the dates scheduled below to speak to the topics listed.

27 January-The Departmental budget   3 February-Street Trading and Voluntary Sector Compact   10 February-District Council Community Services Programme   24 February-New Regeneration Strategy   2 March-New Belfast Regeneration Strategy

4. Presentation by the NI Housing Executive

Panel Members: Mr Sid McDowell, Chairman Mr Paddy McIntyre, Chief Executive Mr Dermot O'Hara, Acting Head of Information

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.15 PM, after which they gave a comprehensive presentation accompanied by copies of slides. There followed a question-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 3.25 PM.

5. Presentation by the Social Security Agency

Panel Members: Mr Chris Thompson, Chief Executive Mr David McCurry, Director of Benefit Security Mr Barney McGahan, Director of Operations

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.35 PM, after which they gave a comprehensive presentation accompanied by copies of slides. The follow-up question-and-answer session is summarised in Annex B. The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 4.35 PM.

6. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet next at 12.00 PM on Tuesday 25 January in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN  

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN